Belfast IT firm creating 200 jobs in Republic

A Belfast IT company is opening a software engineering hub in Co Westmeath with the creation of 200 jobs over four years, writes Margaret Canning.

Neueda Technologies makes software products for clients including government and utilities.

Last year the firm expressed concerns over the recruitment of EU talent following Brexit.

The announcement made no mention of any Brexit influence on the opening.

Neueda will carry out software development for global telecoms and financial services in its new offices on Athlone's Dublin Road.

The £15m-revenue business employs around 200 people at its headquarters in Weaver's Court in Belfast.

It also has operations in London, New York and Latvia.

It has gained funding from the Republic's inward investment agency IDA Ireland for the new office.

Around 70 staff are in place, with 80 expected to join them by the end of the year.

Heather Humphreys TD, the Republic's Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, said: "This large expansion of Neueda's operation here in Athlone is a welcome boost for the Midlands.

"It is also a great vote of confidence in what the region has to offer and a testament to the talent and skillset of the existing staff."

David Bole, co-founder of Neueda Technologies, said: "After considering several international locations for our new engineering hub, we opted for Athlone in January and I can say that we wish we had set up here years ago.

"With one-third of our current positions already filled, we continue to be impressed with the level of technical and engineering talent available to us in the Midlands, particularly considering our very high hiring-bar."

IDA Ireland executive director Mary Buckley said: "This is a young company which has made a strong start in the business and technical training space, having already developed a strong international client base.

"The fact that 70 members of staff have already been hired clearly demonstrates the availability of talent with the appropriate skills."

In June last year the company unveiled plans to invest £12m in 165 new roles and talent development of its software engineers, IT consultants and data analysts in Belfast.

And in October co-founder and chief executive Brendan Monaghan said it had opened an office in Malaga, Spain, to help it retain talent following Brexit.